Rate My Professor David Feldon

Feldon's research characterizes cognitive components of expertise contributing to problem-solving and instruction in STEM disciplines, alongside the development of research skills via educational supports, technology-facilitated instruction, cognitive load, and motivation using brain imaging and eye-tracking. He is principal investigator on major grants, including $2.47 million from NSF for Trajectories into Early Career Research (2018-2022), $1.6 million for Progressions of Skill Development in Biology Doctorates (2014-2018), and a $1.7 million Institute of Education Sciences grant for computational thinking. He directs assessment for a $1 million Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence grant at USU since 2017. Awards include the first AERA Fellowship for a USU faculty member, AERA Division D Significant Contribution to Educational Measurement and Research Methodology Award (2019, shared), USU ITLS Researcher of the Year (2017, 2018), and Fulbright Scholar appointment. Key publications encompass 'Graduate students’ teaching experiences improve their methodological research skills' (Science, 2011), 'Null effects of boot camps and short-format training for Ph.D. students in life sciences' (PNAS, 2017), 'Cumulative advantage in the skill development of STEM graduate students: A mixed methods study' (American Educational Research Journal, 2016), and 'Cognitive load as motivational cost' (Educational Psychology Review, 2019). His scholarship bridges cognition, motivation, and sociological factors for equitable STEM expertise development.